County Sheriff Degree and Career Information (found programs from 154 schools)

Working as a County Sheriff/Deputy Sheriff

Becoming a county sheriff or deputy sheriff can be an excellent way to serve your county, take on an expanded list of police duties, and develop an intricate understanding of laws and statutes in your county. We hope that you will examine this career possibility if you want to enter police work. Especially if you live in a rural or smaller community; this can be a good goal to have in your career.

County sheriffs often serve areas that may be too small or underfunded to have their own police departments. As a result, you may travel all over the county to which you are assigned and answer calls, perform welfare checks, and keep the populace safe. Deputy sheriffs may also work around the county, but you may also work in your area jail in this position. Deputy sheriffs often take on many of the same tasks as police officers. You may spend much of your time covering a particular area and answering emergency calls.

To learn more about your options in police work, contact the schools featured here that can help you find the right program and get started.

Requirements for Becoming a County Sheriff/Deputy Sheriff

To become a county sheriff or deputy sheriff, you may need a combination of relevant education and experience. It's likely that you'll need to complete a law enforcement training course at a local community college or at your local police academy. To be eligible for a sheriff position, you may need to complete a specific amount of work experience as a police officer. Some areas require additional training after you accept a position; for example, you may need county-specific training that prepares you for employment in your area.

It's clear that county sheriffs and deputy sheriffs take on a large amount of responsibility, which is why most sheriffs' offices require intensive education for those that take on sheriff duties. They will check to see if you have the required educational credentials. At minimum, you'll need to complete a basic law enforcement training program. Some sheriff's offices require you to complete this training at their designated police academy, but most will accept training done at an approved technical or community college. Since some employers require a specific amount of training hours, you may want to ensure that the school you choose includes enough training.

In general, basic law enforcement training takes less than six months. For example, the program at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College lasts for 18 weeks and includes 654 hours of training. These training programs can be fairly rigorous, so you may need to spend 30 to 40 hours per week in class. You can also opt to earn an Associate's degree in criminal justice, which can be a great option for some students. The average student completes an Associate's degree in criminal justice in two years.

Course Requirements

Basic law enforcement training may include a variety of courses that prepare you to make traffic stops, answer different types of emergency calls, and work efficiently with people in the community. At Moraine County Community College, the basic law enforcement program includes Crisis Management, Security Procedures, Substantive Criminal Law, and Firearms Training.

Crisis Management covers a variety of situations, from working with drug-addicted individuals to domestic abuse and mental health issues. This course may teach students how to handle different types of crises without unintentionally elevating a situation. Security Procedures offers an in-depth look at ensuring the security and safety of homes and commercial buildings. Substantive Criminal Law prepares you to work with apprehended suspects in a legal and respectful way, while Firearms Training covers the safe use of guns.

Career Outlook and Salary Potential for County Sheriff/Deputy Sheriff

According to O*Net, the job outlook is bright for those who wish to become sheriffs. Their estimates indicate an average salary of $56,130 per year for sheriffs (O*Net, 2013).

However, salaries vary widely from state to state, depending on cost of living and job demand. California sheriffs often earn higher salaries; O*Net reports an average salary of $87,400 per year for California sheriffs. In Illinois, the median salary is $72,700 per year (O*Net, 2013). The average Texas salary of $52,400 is slightly lower than the national average (O*Net, 2013). Due to the fact that sheriffs are public employees, salary information in your area is likely publicly available.

Since sheriffs are employed by the county, they can take advantage competitive benefits packages and regular salary increases. As a county sheriff, you may get a pension and county insurance benefits. As you gain experience in the position, you may receive regularly schedules salary increases for each year of duty.

Working as a County Sheriff/Deputy Sheriff

As a sheriff, you'll need to be flexible, quick-thinking, and able to adapt to many types of critical situations. This may also entail the ability to work long or irregular shifts. Depending on the coverage at your sheriff's station, you may be expected to work nights, weekends, or shifts that last longer than the traditional eight hours. As city police stations close due to budget cuts, many policing tasks are shifting to local sheriffs.

While your work days may be filled with many different duties, these duties may change from day to day. Specific duties may differ between stations. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office requires sheriffs to perform the following duties: perform arrests, carry out bodily searches, write investigative reports, communicate effectively with law enforcement personnel, serve civil actions, and conduct a variety of public assistance activities. They note that physical strength and agility are important, as you may need to use force in certain situations, pursue people on foot, and break through walls or barriers.

The investigative work of sheriffs can often lead to positive change within a community. WJHG in Florida reports that the work of local sheriff Frank McKeithen led to a bill that cracks down on the sale of ingredients that make methamphetamine. The work of a sheriff is incredibly important to local communities and residents.

If you are ready to help protect your community as a County Sheriff, contact the schools listed here to learn how you can accomplish your goal!